Work Flexibility in Eight European Countries: A cross-national comparison

Abstract: Flexibility is often attributed to the extent of de-regulation or so-called "a-typical" work such as part time employment, fixed term contracts and self-employment. Based upon a study of that compared flexibility in 8 countries (UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria) using a representative sample survey of those between 18 and 65 carried out in 2001 (N=10123) and a study of policy frameworks, we develop new ways of looking at flexibility which are focused upon the actual work practices of people in the labour market and how they undertake flexibility of time (working hours), place (where the work takes place) and conditions (contract). We argued that based upon these definitions there is in fact a great deal of flexibility in European labour markets, that goes beyond only "atypical" employment. We explore this in the context of the different regimes of regulation found in different European countries. Furthermore, we identify good flexibility associated with highly educated people being able to regulate their own working time and bad flexibility associated with people with low education, low income, often young workers and those found in rural areas. Some types of flexibility were more typical for men and some for women.;